Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-12-21
Staunto,l $peftafor.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21, 1887.
In The Prospective.

In Inc Irrespective.
Many of the standard tradejournals of
the country are discussing the business
prospects of the next year. In railroad de-
velopment, there will be considerable in
crease over the present year, and more rel
atively in the Southern States than in the
Northern, East of the Mississippi. Many of
the great railway corporations identified by
their titles as belonging to the west of tho
great river, as well as the Illinois Central,
are included in the mapping out of increas-
ed network in their systems for reaching
are planned for the development Of that
slope. Texas and the States east of it are
to have large share in connections leading
in the direction of Chicago. Coming in es-
pecially with this railway progress, there is
to be largely increased demand for forest
resources and timber suitable for railroad
construction and cars, as well as very
heavy estimates for motive power. 1t is
declared that the car-building plants are
not equal to the demand which is now, and
will continue to be, made for such equip
ments. The recent legal proceedings in
relation to the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway
were taken in part with reference to enlarg
ing its capacity to move the heavy increas-
ing tonnage and the still further need in
that direction that will occur when the
new road from Huntington to Cincinnati is
opened. Increased sidings, almost giving
it the capacity Of double track, will be
made, and this, with the connecting lines
under the organization and control of the
Newport News 6 Mississippi Valley sys-
xtem wilt require an unlimited amount of
new rolling stock. But this interest, great
as it is, illustrates but small portion OF
the orders that will be ready for plants,
prepared to enter the bidding for rolling
stock contracts.
The Norfolk Il Western Railroad has
within few days past completed contracts
for building a large round-house, work
shops, and thirty cottages tor employees on
its line in an open country location few
miles east of Burkeville, as we'll as similar
pioyees on its western branches, requiring
an expenditure of $780, 900, and is also en-
largng the accommodations at Norfolk.
The Richmond & Danville has just en-.
tered into contracts for several hundred
new freight cars and corresponding il.
cease of engines.
The Shenandoah Valley line has quadru
pied it's freight business and is pressed fol
cars to conduct it, though it has made re-
cent additions to its rolling-stock. Long
trains every day are observed on that line
conveying North, coke, coal, lumber, sugar
walnut logs, Tennessee marble, cattle, sheep
iron-ore, manganese, pig iron, &c.
Passing from the future prospect in rail
road development, we observe that the agri
cultural and food supplying interests are
assuming changed conditions in the com
merce of the country from those which
they have occupied for some time past
Natural causes are producing them, and il
that is the guaranty for a proper share o
importance and influence in securing bene
fits to producers. Speculation sometimes
but very seldom, gives bright side in the
turn of uncertain events to this class, bu
they are always safer in having their inter
ests settled by the laws governing supply
and demand.
For several weeks past, in compiling th'
trade-review com ments of the SPECTATOR
we have as often referred to the upward
tendency and firmness in our own and tint
controlling centers of commerce in grail
and provisions. Demand for, and TIT
available supply of, the articles thus emu
merated had their proper weight in thu
scales and the natural result was as stated
1t is asserted that there will be no zeal ret
rograde movement in this particular
though there may be nervous shocks in it
progress, for the spectators and cornerer
were not apnihilated in the disaster tina
oyercame them last summer. Continuing
the sapants say that next year will be
bright one generally in business, thus help
ing the producing class; and further, thu
effect of unpropitious seasons to the grea
grain-growiug West, causing diminished
pro rata production, the year of enlarged
progress will commence with a steady ad
vance for bread-stuffs and provisions.
Since the empire of grain production ha
conferred in the great West, abundant, nj
more than poor crops on the Atlantic slope
had an influence in fixing prices for them
It seems that a partial failure this year
and more certain and wider one for TIL
&year to come in the West, is having it
Natural effect, and the reduced surplus 70
kport will bring largely Increased price
former years, thus enabling our Viz
a Valley producers of grain and hay tt
in the advance which the economist
Ere has steadily set in for all the i'm
portant interests of the country, including
agriculture. Our Augusta and other Vale.
farmers have realized in one interest, thi
eaA-hay-which illustrates, the coming
situation to benefit them in the future, no
only in that crop, but more largely in thu
grain Surplus. Augusta hay, in consequence
of a shortened crop in the West, had I
range of demand in the South At
rtic and Gulf States, and at from So tt
Der ton advance, than it would have ha(
but for that misfortune to our western
friends.
The disastrous consequences of TIM
drought that has prevailed for the most par
i OF two years in portions of the States o
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska
Kansas and Missouri, which produce more
corn than all the other States of the Unior
1 together-a remark which can also be ap
piled approximately, if not wholly so, il
reference to winter wheat-has caused fail
ures in the usual and prorata production i,
those States of grain and grass, thereby di
furnishing the surplus for export which ii
TO have a wonderful effect on prices mex
year. 1t is already stated to be true in ref
erence to the corn-crop now matured, ant
those vast sections of lands usually appro